Zeus has punished his son Apollo—god of the sun, music, archery, poetry, and more—by casting him down to earth in the form of a gawky, acne-covered sixteen-year-old mortal named Lester. The only way Apollo can reclaim his rightful place on Mount Olympus is by restoring several Oracles that have gone dark. What is affecting the Oracles, and how can Apollo do anything about them without his powers?
After experiencing a series of dangerous—and frankly, humiliating—trials at Camp Half-Blood, Apollo must now leave the relative safety of the demigod training ground and embark on a hair-raising journey across North America. Fortunately, what he lacks in godly graces he's gaining in new friendships—with heroes who will be very familiar to fans of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Heroes of Olympus series. Come along for what promises to be a harrowing, hilarious, and haiku-filled ride ...

Thanks to Disney-Hyperion for providing a copy of the book and The Dark Prophecy-themed prize-pack products to review and give away. All views are my own.

Since Apollo is the God of Music, Poetry, and the Sun, we are rounding up some summer essentials to have on hand for good summer reading.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite: It’s not always possible to lug your print books around in the summer, so I recommend a glare-free e-reader like the Kindle Paperwhite, which in my opinion makes beach or poolside reading the easiest.

Out of Print Tote: I pretty much need a tote bag every day, but particularly in the summer, when chances are high I need a tote with my personal items (books, wallet, phone, makeup, etc.) in addition to the big waterproof pool tote I fill with the towels, sunscreen, etc. for my entire family. I love Out of Print’s bookish selections, and they’re some of the well-made totes I’ve ever owned.

Travel Picnic Blanket: I got this idea while researching a trip to Disney World, and now I take my travel blanket everywhere in case I just need to sit down — in a park, for example — and read. There are dozens on the market, but we like Wild Life Outfitters’ Kanga Pocket, because it’s lightweight and packs up easily.

Book Sleeves: My good friend Lauren gave me one at ALA this year, and it has since been my constant companion, keeping my paperbacks from getting battered in my bags. There are loads available on Etsy and elsewhere, but this Book Beau is quite lovely.

Sunglasses: Ever since I had LASIK, I’ve been obsessed with sunglasses (no more paying hundreds of dollars for Rx lenses!). Currently my two favorites are a pair by Maui Jim and Warby Parker (pictured), both companies with amazing customer service that will service your glasses (frames & lenses) for either free or an affordable repair fee.

We’re giving away a God of the Sun Prize Pack

Apollo is the god of many things! To celebrate the release of The Dark Prophecy, three different prize packs will be offered in giveaways across the web inspired by Apollo’s godliness — God of Music, God of Poetry, and God of the Sun (which we’re giving away). Collect them all! One (1) winner receives:

Copy of The Dark Prophecy

Camp Half-Blood sunglasses

The Trials of Apollo beach mat

To enter, just leave a comment here by Friday, May 26th. You must leave a valid email address to enter.

Hello fellow book lovers! Teen Lit Rocks is run by Sandie Chen, a professional book reviewer and film critic. Our contributors are all adult women (librarians, educators, mothers) hailing from across the U.S. and Canada who love to read YA. We support diversity in teen literature and can't wait to discuss our recommendations with you.